McLaughlin, and fellow Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year MacKenzie Gore, graced this week’s cover. She became the first person to win Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year for a second time in a row.

Last month McLaughlin earned Gatorade’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year award for the second year in a row, being surprise presented with the honor by legendary sprinter Allyson Felix again as well.
SI’s Dan Greene wrote the feature on McLaughlin in the current SI issue.

McLaughlin (Dunellen, New Jersey - Union Catholic High School) completed her high school career last month by placing sixth in the USA Track and Field 400-meter hurdles final, lowering her world under-20 (formerly known as junior) record to 53.82 — a world-class time that would’ve at worst medaled in just about any other 400m hurdles race ever contested.
That wrapped a prep career which saw her break multiple high school records in addition to countless performances that went viral on the internet to say nothing of becoming the youngest person to make the U.S. Olympic track and field team in decades.

McLaughlin and UK Head Coach Edrick Floréal have indicated she will compete in the 100m hurdles and long jump as a freshman. The initial explanation for the decision is to take break from her signature 400 hurdles after two straight grueling seasons that took her to elite competitions contested long after most prep athletes have begun offseason recovery, and also to just keep things fresh for an athlete so talented across disciplines.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue